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The wind farm at Scout Moor and Knowl Moor is a 26-turbine site on an open upland moor of peat bog and heather in the South Pennines, reaching a maximum elevation of 1,552 feet (473 m) at its peak. It is the largest onshore wind farm in England; the site occupies an area of 1,347 acres (545 ha) and its 26 turbines stretch for nearly two miles across the moor and are visible from as far away as south Manchester, 15–20 miles (24–32 km) away (Link Manchester Evening News) SD8318 : Scout Moor Wind Farm (Viewed from Manchester).

The wind farm, which was built for Peel Energy (Link ), was officially opened on 25 September 2008 after "years of controversy" (Link Bolton News). Planning applications were first submitted in 2003 and despite objections from residents and local councils, planning permission for the open moorland site between Edenfield, Rawtenstall and Rochdale was granted in 2005.

The total cost of the Scout Moor project was £50 million, but Peel Holdings expect the turbines to be in operation for at least 25 years (Link Manchester Evening News). The site produces electricity from 26 Nordex N80 wind turbines and has a maximum output capacity of 65 MW of electricity, providing 154,000 MWh per year. A brochure published by Peel in 2010 states that the wind farm is predicted to generate enough renewable electricity for up to 40,000 homes roughly half the houses in a town the size of Rochdale.


Link Site plan
Link Scout Moor Wind Farm Brochure (Peel Energy 2010)